FAQ

Q: I WANT A SPECIFIC PAINTING IN YOUR INVENTORY, BUT IT'S TOO BIG FOR MY WALLS. WHAT CAN I DO? 

A: You can order prints that are smaller in size or request a custom commission.

 

Q: I'M LOOKING TO BUY A PAINTING, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHERE TO HANG IT. 

A: Please refer to the augmented reality and wall preview features when selecting the painting(s) from the shop. You can use the augmented reality feature on any of the walls in your home, office, hotel, or any other space and see exactly what it will look like! You can figure out the best places to hang it, considering the size of the wall as well as the surrounding colors.

 

Q: CAN I ORDER A PRINT IN A SPECIFIC SIZE THAT IS NOT LISTED IN THE AVAILABLE SIZE OPTIONS? 

A: Definitely! Please send us an email to info@amydiener.com and we would be happy to accommodate you! 

 

Q: CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE PRINT QUALITY OF YOUR FINE ART PRINTS? 

A: Absolutely! High quality, high resolution prints are produced in collaboration with Graphik Dimensions in North Carolina. Prints fully render all the details and richness of color found in my paintings. 

 

Q: WHAT IS YOUR SHIPPING AND RETURN POLICY? 

A: Please refer to the shipping & return policy page 

 

Q: IS YOUR ARTWORK AVAILABLE FOR LICENSING? 

A: Definitely! To discuss further, please send an email to info@amydiener.com 

 

Q: WHAT INSPIRES YOUR WORK?

A: My artwork explores the concept of mindfulness. Painting dots is a mindful practice, requiring focus and repetition. Since the age of 18, I have battled with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and creating paintings has been a way for me to turn my suffering into something inspirational and beautiful. My paintings are inspired by the colors from nature and city surroundings I encounter during my travels. I’ve been inspired by the color combinations of the lupins of New Zealand, the sunflowers fields and turquoise waters of Thailand, the neon pink and sky blue taxis of Bangkok, the bamboo forests of Kyoto, the colorful houses of Burano, and the multi colored sea glass along the beaches of Barcelona. I am also interested in how the selected color palettes can affect sensory and psychological perceptions. Additionally, many of my mandala dot paintings are inspired by the fibonacci sequence. My goal for the paintings is to provide a therapeutic experience for viewers, encouraging them to pause, take a breath, and mesmerize their minds and bodies.

 

Q: WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU USE TO MAKE YOUR DOT PAINTINGS? 

A: I use small paint brushes, size 00-3, depending on the size of the dot. I use acrylic paints, usually Winsor & Newton or Amsterdam brand. If the paint comes out of the tube too thick, I add a flow improver which thins out the paint. Sometimes, little bubbles are created within the dots, but I love the tactile quality of it! For certain paintings, I build upon the dots through layering to create three dimensionality!

 

Q: HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR DOTS SO CIRCULAR?

A: I’ve had years of practice mastering the technique of dotting! The trick is getting the paint to a perfect consistency, not too thin or too thick. I dip my brush into the paint and drop the dot with pressure, creating a beautifully rounded dot.

 

Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO FINISH A PAINTING? 

A: Depending on the size and complexity of the painting, it can take anywhere between one hour to hundreds of hours. This includes not only the actual dotting process, but also the idea creation, time spent traveling to collect materials, mixing colors, varnishing the artwork for protection, photographing, taking videos/timelapses, and uploading my works onto my website.

 

Q: HOW HAS YOUR ARTWORK EVOLVED INTO YOUR CURRENT STYLE? 

A: I became obsessed with mandalas in 2015. I went to a workshop in New York that explored mandala art making, and I found it to be the most meditative activity I’ve ever participated in. I then started to see mandalas everywhere. Any design that has a circle as a center and radiates outwards, for example: flowers, spirals, eyes, clocks, wheels, fans, the galaxy... appeared in my daily life. By early 2016, I gradually started adding dots to my mandalas because I was inspired by different artists using them, such as Yayoi Kusama, Elspeth Mclean and Barbara Takenaga. In mid 2016, I pursued a master's degree in art education, with a concentration in painting. I abandoned all brushstrokes, and just used the dot as the mark of my artwork. The process of “dotting”, dipping and dropping circles onto a surface became a wonderful routine. The dot is decorative and visually pleasing in appearance, however the goal of the process and final product is to provide a state of “liminality,” a pause or space in between. This creates decreased thoughts and increased awareness of the present moment.

 

Q: HOW DO YOU SIGN YOUR PAINTINGS? 

A: I sign my original artworks with my signature on the back side of the canvas, as to not distract from the beauty of the dots.

 

Q: HOW DO YOU SEAL YOUR PAINTINGS? 

A: I finish the works with two coats of acrylic gloss or matt varnish depending on if I want the piece to shimmer or not. The varnish protects the painting from dust and dirt, as well as protects it from UV light. I suggest that you don’t leave your canvas artworks by windows and sunlight because with exposure to sunlight, colors can fade.

 

Q: HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF MY DOT JEWELRY?

All items are hand painted, therefore please handle with care. Please do not scratch or pick at the products as that may damage the integrity of the dot or cause it to chip off. Also, do not immerse in water. If the piece contains silver, it will over time become tarnished. We recommend you to clean with a silver polishing cream and a microfiber cloth. Wooden pendants may get slightly sticky on the side facing your chest – just use a q-tip and rubbing alcohol and wallah, no more sticky! Although items are varnished, they still may get slightly dusty over time – all you need to do is take a clean soft paint brush and dust the surface gently! Do not use solvents as this may harm the paint.

 

Q: HOW DO YOU PRICE YOUR PAINTINGS? 

A: I have had years of experience mastering the technique of dotting (dipping and dropping dots onto a surface), therefore the dotting practice takes anywhere between one hour for miniature pieces to hundreds of hours for super intricate and large canvas artworks. However, the time I invest also includes the idea creation, time spent traveling to collect materials (example - stones on the beach) or ordering inventory, mixing of colors, varnishing, photographing, and uploading my work online. All of these time factors contribute to how I price my artwork. All items are hand painted with love.

 

Q: WHAT CURRENCY ARE YOUR PRICES IN? 

A: All prices are listed in USD. For my Thailand clients who would prefer to use bank transfer, please take a screenshot of the items in your cart, along with your full name, address and phone number and send to +66.86.359.9104 on Whatsapp or Line. I will then respond with currency conversation amount in THB and my bank details.

 

Q: STILL CAN'T FIND THE ANSWER TO YOU QUESTION? 

A: Email us at info@amydiener.com and we will email you back ASAP!

 

For every original painting sale, I will be donating 5% of funds to the International OCD Foundation.

This money will go towards bringing awareness, education, and accessible and effective treatment for individuals suffering from OCD. Treatments can be expensive like it was for me, so I want to reach out a hand!